Bulldozer blade mount



Oct. 23, 1962 3,059,356

L. J. LORANG BULLDOZERBLADE MOUNT Filed April 24, 1961 I5 Sheets-Sheet l is Fi 5 ,8 6

P M 1a 26: 8 1 1 33 a 26 T H a E 4 16 a 4 INVENTOR TTORNEY5 Oct. 23, 1962 Filed April 24, 1961 L. J. LORANG BULLDOZER BLADE MOUNT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 23, 1962 J. LORANG 3,059,356

BULLDOZER BLADE MOUNT Filed April 24, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 //1111111111111111111114; flIlIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/lflq 3,059,356 BULLDOZER BLADE MOUNT Leo J. Lorang, Colfax, (Ialif. Filed Apr. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 105,160 11 Claims. (Cl. 37144) This invention relates in general to tractor mounted bulldozers.

In particular, the invention is directed to, and it is a major object to provide, a novel mount between a bulldozer blade and a crawler type tractor; such mount being arranged so .that the bulldozer blade can be readily and conveniently set or adjusted to different and selective working positions.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a bulldozer blade mount which is operative through the medium of included fluid pressure actuated power cylinders to tilt the blade in a longitudinal plane, to angle such blade to right or left, and to cant the blade from end to end in a transverse plane; all as and when working conditions may require, and at the selection of the operator of the tractor.

Another and important object of the invention is to provide a bulldozer blade mount, as in the preceding paragraph, wherein the included power cylinders-when Worked or actuated in certain order or sequencingare alone operative to elfect such adjustment of the blade, and without the necessity of the operator leaving his position on the tractor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bulldozer blade mount which is designed for ease of manufacture, ready installation, and long service with a minimum of maintenance or repair.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a bulldozer blade mount constructed so that the work load or pressure will be transferred from the blade, to the yoke embodied in said mount, through rigid structural members rather than through the power cylinders included in such mount essentially for positional control.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a practical, reliable, and durable bulldozer blade mount, and one which is exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the mount as supporting a bulldozer blade from a tractor; the blade being set, transversely, in its straight across position.

FIG. 2 is a top plan of the same.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation on line 33 of FIG. 2; the blade, as shown in dot-ted lines being tilted forwardly at the top and rearwardly at the bottom.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional plan on line 44 of RIG. 3.

FIGS. 57, inclusive, are semi-diagrammatic views illustrating in general the progressive steps followed to angle the blade.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic front elevation illustrating the blade in a canted position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and to the characters of reference marked thereon, the novel mount-which extends between a tractor 1 and a transverse forwardly facing bulldozer blade 2-comprises a push frame or thrust yoke, indicated generally at 3, which straddles the tractor from the front; such yoke including longitudinal side beams 4 journaled at the rear ends to the track frames 5, as at 6. The front of the yoke 3 includes a relatively short central transverse section 7 and rearwardly divergent sections 8 which extend from the ends of the central section to the forward ends of the side beams 4. f

Intermediate its ends, and on the back side at a relatively low point, the blade 2 is fitted with a ball and socket unit 9 having a rearwardly projecting center pin 10 which extends to and is fixed in the central section 7 of the yoke 3. Such ball and socket unit 9 is the primary support between the yoke 3 and blade 2, while permitting of universal adjustment of the latter.

The yoke 3 is adjustably suspended at the frontfrom the tractor by a block and tackle cable system 11 having a pull run leading to connection with the conventional power winch 12 at the forward end of such tractor.

A thrust arm unit, indicated generally at 13, is connected between each end of the blade 2 and the related yoke side beam 4; such thrust arm units converging slightly in a rearward direction when the blade is in a straight across position, and each being constructed and mounted as follows:

A lower, longitudinally extending thrust arm 14 carries, at its rear end, a swivel joint 15 which includes a laterally inwardly projecting trunnion 16 separably but normally engaged, from the outer side, in a journal 1701. one of three longitudinally spaced ears 18 fixed on and upstanding from the corresponding yoke side beam 4. The position and spacing of the ears 18 is the same on each of said side beams 4.

The lower thrust arm 14 normally slopes forwardly and downwardly and is attached to the blade at a relatively low point by a swivel joint 19, a part of which is provided :by an upstanding rotary post 20 journaled on the back side of said blade.

An upper thrust arm 21' is pivotally attached, as at 22, to the top and rear portion of the lower thrust arm 14 and thence extends forwardly and upwardly and is connected to the blade at a relatively high point by a swivel joint 23, a part of which is also provided by the related rotary post 20. A double acting, tilt control, power cylinder 24 is interposed in and forms a unitary portion of the upper thrust arm 21.

Each thrust arm unit 13 is adapted to be swung laterally outwardly, with the corresponding post 20 as an axis, for the purpose of separating the trunnion 16 from the journal 17 of the engaged ear 18; such swinging, not only laterally outwardly but subsequently inwardly for the purpose later described, being accomplished by a double acting power cylinder 25.

The power cylinder 25 for each thrust arm unit 13 isv pivoted at one end to the back of the blade laterally inwardly of such unit, as at 26, and thence normally extends at an outward and rearward diagonal to connection, as at 2.7, with a lever arm 28 which projects inwardly from the swivel joint 19.

The power cylinders 25 are normally energized in a contracting direction whereby to hold the trunnions 16 against escape from the journals 17 of ears 18. A pair of single acting power cylinders or rams 29 are mounted longitudinally on the central section 7 of yoke 3 and are spaced equidistantly on opposite sides of the center pin 10; such rams 29 each including a normally springretracted plunger 30 adapted to be fluid pressure advanced toward the blade 2. The exposed head 31 of each plunger 30 is round-ended as shown, and when such plunger-s are advanced said heads engage in concave, transversely extending channels 32 in abutment blocks 33 fixed on the back of blade 2 on opposite sides of the ball and socketunit 9.

A heavy duty, longitudinal stop bar 34 is fixed on. the underside of the central section 7 of yoke 3, and such stop bar projects forwardly toward, but normally termi nates short of, the blade 2. V

The power cvlinders 24 and 25, and the rams 29, are

included in a valve regulated, fluid pressure conduit system (not shown but preferably hydraulic) that is; controlled by the operator from his position on the tractor; such system beingarranged in any suitable manner so that said cylinders 24 and 25, and said rams 29, can be actuated selectively and independently, or inun-ison when necessary.

The above described bulldozer blade mount is operative to accomplish various settings of the blade 2 in the following manner:

To tilt the blade'2 in a longitudinal plane, the power cylinders 24 are extended or contracted simultaneously to cause the blade to move forwardly or rearwardly, respectively, at the top; the blade tilting about the ball and socket unit 9 as the pivotal point.

When it is desired to angle the blade 2 to right or left, and assuming it to be-as an example-An an initially straight across position and in the same plane as the yoke, the following steps are undertaken:

Firstly, the rams 29 are energized sufficiently to cause the plungers 30 to advance until the heads 31 seat in the channels 32 of the abutment blocks 33. Nextly, the power cylinders 25 are extended and which swings the thrust arm units laterally outwardly and which withdraws the trunnions from the journals 17 of the engaged cars 18. See FIG. 5.

Thereafter, more pressure is delivered equally to the rams 29, causing the plungers 30 to further and simultaneously advance so as to tilt the blade 2 forwardly at the top and rearwardly at the bottom until the blade abuts the stop bar 34. With the'ram heads 3-1 against the blocks 33, and the blade tilted back at the bottom and againsti the stop bar 34, such blade is held in a firm position.

Nextly, one of the rams 29 is still further energized causing its plunger 30 to additionallyadvance imposing a heavy pressure on blade 2 to one side of the ball and socket unit 9, with the result that said blade is forcefully pushed to an angled position and which may be to right or left depending on which ram 29 applies the force; the remaining ram being held advanced but with less pressure. 7 s 7 When the blade is so angled (see FIG. 6), one thrust arm unit 13 has moved forward and the other rearward, with. both remaining detached from the ears 18;

The power cylinders 25 are then contracted and the thrust a-rm units 13 swung laterally inwardly until the trunnions 16 engage in the journals 17 of adjacent ears; he the forward and rearward ears on opposite sides'of the yoke 3 (see FIG. 7).

- The cylinders 24, and the ram plungers 30, can be ad;

justed to whatever slight extent may be necessary to aline the trunnions 16 with the journals for proper registry with and entry thereinto.

Thereafter, the cylinders 25 are held contracted, as. is normal and so that the thrust arm units 13 remain connected at their rear ends to the yoke, and for use of the blade in its adjusted or angled position.

After the blade is adjusted to an angled'positionfthe rams 29 are de-energized and: the plungers' 30 spring-retract to. normal position clear of the blocks 33; this being followed by resetting of blade 2, by cylinders 24, to a normal working. position spaced ahead of stop bar 34. 7 To tilt the blade 2 from end to end'in a transverse plane, as indicated in FIG. 8, the power cylinders 24 are differentially extended, or one held stationary and the other extended, which causes the blade to elevate at one end relativeto the other. 7 V 7 With, the mount,.as described herein, the bulldozer blade 2in any adjusted positionis used in a conven- Cit From the foregoing description, it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a bulldozer blade mount as substantially fulfillsthe objects of the invention, as set forth herein. 7

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the bulldozer blade mount, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent is desired:

1. In the combination of a tractor and a forwardly disposed bulldozer blade, a mount connecting the blade and tractor comprising a thrust yoke including longitudinal side beams rear-end connected to the tractor on opposite sides thereof, and a central forward section ahead of the tractor; a pivotal coupling between the central forward section and the blade intermediate its ends to permit of angling adjustment of said blade, a thrust arm unit extending between each side beam and the corresponding end of the blade, means separably and longitudinally adjustably connecting the rear end of each thrust arm unit to the corresponding side beam, means laterally swingably connecting each thrust arm unit to the corresponding end of the blade, power means between the blade and each thrust arm unit operative to swing the same laterally outwardly and then inwardly, said first named connecting means being separated and re-engaged upon such outward and inward swinging respectively of the thrust arm units, and power means, between the thrust yoke and blade operative to efiect angling adjustment of the latter upon separationof said first named connecting means.

2. A mount, as in claim 1, in which said last named power means includes a fluid pressure actuated ram assembly mounted on said central forward section of the yoke,

tional manner; the mount, however, making possible ready power adjustment of said blade to selective positions at the operator from his position on 7 and adapted to engage and impart angling movement to the blade.

3. A mount, as in claim 2 in which said assembly embodies transversely spaced, longitudinal rams, one on each side of said pivotal coupling; each ram having a normally retracted plunger adapted upon advance to engage 'the blade. 7 7

4. A mount, as in claim 3, in which the head of each plunger is rounded; there being abutment blocks on the rear of the blade transversely channeled to receive said heads in substantially matching relation upon advance of the plungers.

5. In the combination of a tractor and a forwardly disposed bulldozer blade, a mount connecting the blade and tractor comprising a thrust yoke including longitudinal side beams rear-end connected to the tractor on opposite sides thereof, and a central forward section ahead of the tractor; a pivotal coupling between the central sponding end of the blade, means separably and longitudinally adjustably connecting'the rear end of each thrust arm unit to the corresponding side beam, means laterally swingably connecting each thrust arm unit to the corresponding end of the blade, power means between the blade and each thrust arm unit operative to swing the same laterally outwardly and then inwardly, said first named connecting means being separated and re-engaged upon such outward and inward swinging respectively of the thrust arm units, and a pair of transversely spaced longitudinal rams mounted on the central forward section of the yoke; said rams. being disposed one on each side of said pivotal coupling, and each ram including a plunger normally retracted clear of but adapted to ad Vance into engagementwith and to impart angling movemeut'to said blade; e V

6., In the combination of a tractor and a -forward'ly disposed bulldozer blade, a mount connecting the blade and tractor comprising a thrust yoke including longitudinal side beams rear-end connected to the tractor on opposite sides thereof, and a central forward section ahead of the tractor; a pivotal coupling between the central forward section and the blade intermediate its ends to permit of angling adjustment of said blade, a thrust arm unit extending between each side beam and the corresponding end of the blade, means separably and longitudinally adjustably connecting the rear end of each thrust arm unit to the corresponding side beam, means laterally swingably connecting each thrust arm unit to the corresponding end of the blade, a double acting fluid pressure power cylinder connected between the blade and each thrust arm unit operative to swing the same laterally outwardly and then inwardly, said first named connecting means being separated and re-engaged upon such outward and inward swinging respectively of the thrust arm units, and power means between the thrust yoke and blade operative to effect angling adjustment of the latter upon separation of said first named connecting means.

7. A mount, as in claim 6, in which said separable and longitudinally adjustable connecting means includes a trunnion projecting laterally inwardly from the rear end of each thrust arm unit, a plurality of upstanding longitudinally spaced ears on the side beams, the ears having journals for reception of the trunnions, the latter normally engaging in unsecured relation in selected ones of said journals, and said power cylinders normally holding the thrust arm units against outward swinging and withdrawal of the trunnions from the journals.

8. In the combination of a tractor and a forwardly disposed bulldozer blade, a mount connecting the blade and tractor comprising a thrust yoke including longitudinal side beams rear-end connected to the tractor on opposite sides thereof, and a central forward section ahead of the tractor; a universal coupling between the central forward section and the blade intermediate its ends to permit of both longitudinal tilting and transverse angling adjustment of said blade, a thrust arm unit extending between each side beam and the corresponding end of the blade, means separably and longitudinally adjustably connecting the rear end of each thrust arm unit to the corresponding side beam, means laterally swingably connecting each thrust arm unit to the corresponding end of the blade, power means included in the thrust arm units operative to impart longitudinal tilting to the blade about a transverse axis, a stop on the yoke engaged by the blade when tilted forwardly at the top and rearwardly at the bottom, power means between the blade and each thrust arm unit operative to swing the same laterally outwardly and then inwardly, said first named connecting means being separated and re-engaged upon such outward and inward swinging respectively of the thrust arm units, and power means between the thrust yoke and blade operative to effect angling adjustment of the latter upon separation of said first named connecting means.

9. A mount, as in claim 8, in which all of said power means are fluid pressure actuated.

10. A mount, as in claim 8, in which each thrust arm unit includes an upper and a lower thrust arm, each such arm being universally connected at the forward end to the blade, and the related power means being a double acting fluid pressure power cylinder interposed in one of said thrust arms.

11. In the combination of a tractor and a forwardly disposed bulldozer blade, a mount connecting the blade and tractor comp-rising a thrust yoke including longitudinal side beams rear-end connected to the tractor on opposite sides thereof, and a central forward section ahead of the tractor; a ball and socket unit between the central forward section and the blade intermediate its ends to permit of both longitudinal tilting and transverse angling adjustment of said blade, a thrust arm unit extending between each side beam and the corresponding end of the blade, means separably and longitudinally adjustably connecting the rear end of each thrust arm unit to the corresponding side beam, means laterally swingably connecting each thrust arm unit to the corresponding end of the blade, power means included in the thrust arm units operative to impart longitudinal tilting to the blade about a. transverse axis, a stop on the yoke engaged by the blade when tilted forwardly at the top and rearwardly at the bottom, power means between the blade and each thrust arm unit operative to swing the same laterally outwardly and then inwardly, said first named connecting means being separated and re-engaged upon such outward and inward swinging respectively of the thrust arm units, and a pair of transversely spaced longitudinal rams mounted on the central forward section of the yoke; said rams being disposed one on each side of said ball and socket unit, and each ram including a plunger normally retracted clear of but adapted to advance into engagement with and to impart angling movement to said blade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,749,630 Nave June 12, 1956 2,766,536 Perkins Oct. 16, 1956 2,838,857 Allin et al. June 17, 1958 2,959,876 Lull a- Nov. 15, 1960 

